JP6169482B2 - Liquid crystal device, electronic apparatus, and liquid crystal device manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present disclosure relates to a liquid crystal device, an electronic apparatus including the same, and a method for manufacturing the liquid crystal device.

  There is a liquid crystal display (LCD) device that allows a user to visually recognize a stereoscopic image with the naked eye. In such a liquid crystal display device, there is a mechanism for arranging a variable lens array as a liquid crystal device on a surface on which an image is displayed as a mechanism for generating parallax for a user. The liquid crystal display device having the variable lens array uses the refractive index of the liquid crystal of the variable lens array to divide the image displayed on the image display device according to the left and right parallax, and to obtain an image that reaches the left and right eyes of the user. A parallax is generated and an image that can be viewed stereoscopically is obtained.

  Here, when the liquid crystal device is a variable lens array, it is necessary to maintain a predetermined distance between the pair of substrates. The liquid crystal layer of the variable lens array is considerably thicker than the liquid crystal layer of a normal liquid crystal display panel. In contrast, a liquid crystal device has a structure in which a spacer is provided between two substrates sandwiching a liquid crystal layer to maintain the thickness of the liquid crystal layer.

  As a spacer provided in the liquid crystal device, there are a columnar spacer described in Patent Document 1 and a dispersion type spacer that disperses a spherical spacer described in Patent Document 2.

JP 2000-214424 A JP 2012-173517 A

  It is difficult to control the position where the spacer is disposed, and it is difficult to dispose the scattering spacer at a predetermined position with respect to the electrode pattern. If the spacer positions are random, the shape of the liquid crystal lens may vary depending on the position, and the lens characteristics may become unstable. On the other hand, the columnar spacer can be formed in a desired pattern by a process using exposure and etching.

  Here, for example, VA (Vertical Alignment) mode liquid crystal is used for the liquid crystal device of the variable lens array. The liquid crystal molecules of such a liquid crystal device are aligned with the direction of the long axis perpendicular to the substrate surface when no voltage is applied (off state), but when the voltage is applied (on state). The liquid crystal molecules are tilted (tilted) according to the voltage. Therefore, when a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer in a state where no voltage is applied and the liquid crystal molecules that are aligned perpendicular to the substrate surface fall down, the direction of the tilt is arbitrary. For example, a reverse twist domain may occur. In particular, in a liquid crystal device using columnar spacers, abnormal alignment may easily occur. The location where the abnormal orientation has occurred is a cause of a decrease in yield due to a display defect.

  The present disclosure provides a liquid crystal device, an electronic device, and a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal device that can suppress defects due to abnormal alignment and suppress a decrease in yield.

  A liquid crystal device of the present disclosure includes a first substrate that is a transparent substrate, a second substrate that is a transparent substrate facing the first substrate, and liquid crystal molecules provided between the first substrate and the second substrate. A liquid crystal layer, an alignment film for aligning the liquid crystal molecules on the surface of the first substrate on the liquid crystal layer side, and a columnar spacer provided on the alignment film of the first substrate. The film has a portion on which at least a part of the portion overlapping the columnar spacer is not subjected to the alignment treatment.

  An electronic device according to the present disclosure includes the liquid crystal device described above. For example, a portable terminal device such as a car navigation device, a television device, a digital camera, a personal computer, a video camera, a mobile phone, and a portable game machine, or information. This applies to mobile terminals.

  The liquid crystal device manufacturing method of the present disclosure is provided between a first substrate that is a transparent substrate, a second substrate that is a transparent substrate facing the first substrate, and the first substrate and the second substrate. A liquid crystal device comprising: a liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules; an alignment film for aligning the liquid crystal molecules on a surface of the first substrate on the liquid crystal layer side; and a spacer provided on the alignment film of the first substrate. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal device, the step of forming a film to be an alignment film on the first substrate, the step of forming a columnar spacer on the alignment film, and the step in which the columnar spacer is formed And a step of performing an alignment process on the alignment film.

  According to the liquid crystal device, the electronic device, and the liquid crystal device manufacturing method of the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress defects due to abnormal alignment and suppress a decrease in yield.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view when the image display apparatus used in the present embodiment is virtually separated. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic cross-sectional structure of the image display unit. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic cross-sectional structure of the variable lens array. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the pretilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules. FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of the front surface of the variable lens array. FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of the back surface of the variable lens array. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a manufacturing method of the liquid crystal device. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another example of a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device. FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view when an image display device used in another embodiment is virtually separated. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of an electronic apparatus to which the image display device according to the present embodiment is applied.

  Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described based on embodiments with reference to the drawings. The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments, and various numerical values and materials in the embodiments are examples. In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for the same elements or elements having the same function, and redundant description is omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view when the image display apparatus used in the present embodiment is virtually separated. As shown in FIG. 1, the image display device 1 includes an image display unit 10 that displays a two-dimensional image, an illumination unit 20, and a variable lens array (liquid crystal device) 30.

The image display unit 10 displays a two-dimensional image. In the image display unit 10, M pixels 12 in the X direction shown in FIG. 1 and N pixels 12 in the Y direction shown in FIG. The pixel 12 in the m-th column (where m = 1, 2,..., M) is represented as a pixel 12 _m . Although the image display unit 10 of the present embodiment is a liquid crystal display panel, a widely known image display device such as an electroluminescence display panel or a plasma display panel can be used for the image display unit 10. The image display unit 10 may display a monochrome image or a color image. The liquid crystal display panel is made of, for example, a front panel having a transparent common electrode, a rear panel having a transparent pixel electrode, and a liquid crystal material disposed between the front panel and the rear panel. The operation mode of the liquid crystal display panel is not particularly limited. The liquid crystal display panel may be driven in a so-called TN mode, or may be driven in a VA mode or an IPS mode.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic cross-sectional structure of the image display unit. As shown in FIG. 2, the display area 11 of the image display unit 10 includes a pixel substrate 11A, a counter substrate 11B arranged to face in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the pixel substrate 11A, and the pixel substrate 11A and the counter substrate. 11C, and a liquid crystal layer 11C inserted between the two layers 11B. In the image display unit 10, the distance between the pixel substrate 11A and the counter substrate 11B is, for example, about 3 μm to 4 μm.

  The liquid crystal layer 11C modulates light passing therethrough according to the state of the electric field. For example, TN (Twisted Nematic), VA (Vertical Alignment), ECB (Electrically Controlled Birefringence) Liquid crystals of various modes such as controlled birefringence and FFS (Fringe Field Switching) are used.

  The counter substrate 11 </ b> B includes a glass substrate 75 and a color filter 76 formed on one surface of the glass substrate 75. A polarizing plate 73 </ b> A is disposed on the other surface of the glass substrate 75. The color filter 76 includes a color region colored in three colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). For example, the color filter 76 periodically arranges color regions of color filters colored in three colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B), and each pixel has R, G, and B 3. Color areas of colors are associated as a set of pixels. The color filter 76 faces the liquid crystal layer 11 </ b> C in a direction perpendicular to the TFT substrate 71. The color filter 76 may be a combination of other colors as long as it is colored in a different color. In general, in the color filter 76, the luminance of the green (G) color region is higher than the luminance of the red (R) color region and the blue (B) color region. The common electrode COML is a transparent electrode formed of a transparent conductive material (transparent conductive oxide) such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide).

  The pixel substrate 11A includes a TFT substrate 71 as a circuit substrate, a plurality of pixel electrodes 72 arranged in a matrix on the TFT substrate 71, and a common electrode COML formed between the TFT substrate 71 and the pixel electrode 72. And an insulating layer 74 that insulates the pixel electrode 72 from the common electrode COML, and a polarizing plate 73B on the incident side on the lower surface side of the TFT substrate 71. A first alignment film 77 is disposed between the liquid crystal layer 11C and the pixel substrate 11A. A second alignment film 78 is disposed between the liquid crystal layer 11C and the counter substrate 11B.

  The image display unit 10 is driven by a drive circuit (not shown) and displays a two-dimensional image corresponding to an external video signal by controlling the alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules in the pixel.

  On the back side of the image display unit 10, an illumination unit 20 that emits light is disposed. The illumination unit 20 includes members (not shown) such as a light source, a prism sheet, a diffusion sheet, and a light guide plate. As the illumination unit 20, a widely known illumination unit can be used. The illumination unit 20 is not particularly limited.

  Next, the variable lens array 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic cross-sectional structure of the variable lens array. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the pretilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules. FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of the front surface of the variable lens array. FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of the back surface of the variable lens array. In FIG. 5, a part of the second substrate 130B is cut away. In FIG. 6, a part of the first substrate 130A is cut away.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the variable lens array 30 includes a first substrate 130A, a second substrate 130B, and a liquid crystal layer 137 disposed between the first substrate 130A and the second substrate 130B. The sealing unit 138 is a mechanism that is formed around the surface where the first substrate 130A and the second substrate 130B face each other, and seals between the first substrate 130A and the second substrate 130B.

  A material having high light transmittance can be used for the first substrate 130A and the second substrate 130B. As a material constituting the first substrate 130A and the second substrate 130B, for example, acrylic resin, polycarbonate resin (PC), ABS resin, polymethyl methacrylate resin (PMMA), polyarylate resin (PAR), polyethylene terephthalate resin ( PET) or glass can be exemplified. The materials constituting the first substrate 130A and the second substrate 130B may be the same or different.

  The variable lens array 30 is disposed so as to face the front of the image display unit 10 and is held by a holding member (not shown) so as to face the image display unit 10 with a predetermined interval determined in design. . The front of the image display unit 10 refers to the side of the image observer who observes the image displayed on the image display unit 10. As will be described later, between the first substrate 130A and the second substrate 130B of the variable lens array 30, a position where the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 137 does not change when the refractive index of the lens array 31 is changed. In addition, a spacer (columnar spacer) 136 is provided.

In the variable lens array 30, P lens arrays (variable lens arrays) 31 extending in the Y direction shown in FIG. 1 are arranged side by side in the X direction shown in FIG. The lens array 31 in the p-th column (where p = 1, 2,..., P) is represented as a lens array 31 _p . The lens array 31 _{p -1} and the lens array 31 _{p + 1} are adjacent to the lens array 31 _p . The relationship between “P” and “M” described above will be described later.

For convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the number of viewpoints when displaying a stereoscopic image is _four viewpoints A ₁ , A ₂ ..., A _{4 in} the central observation area, but this is merely an example. . The number of observation regions and the number of viewpoints can be appropriately set according to the design of the image display device 1. By suitably setting the positional relationship between the image display unit 10 and the lens array 31, an image for each viewpoint can be observed in the left region and the right region of the central observation region.

As shown in FIG. 3, the variable lens array 30 that is a liquid crystal device is configured by changing the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 137 by a voltage applied between the first electrode 131 and the second electrode 134. A lens array 31 whose refractive index changes is provided. The variable lens array 30 includes a first substrate 130A having first electrodes 131 ₁ , 131 ₂ ... 131 ₈ , a second substrate 130B having second electrodes 134, a first substrate 130A, and a second substrate 130B. And a liquid crystal layer 137 disposed between the two. The first electrodes 131 ₁ , 131 ₂ ... 131 ₈ may be collectively referred to as the first electrode 131. The same applies to other elements.

  The first electrode 131 and the second electrode 134 are respectively formed on the surfaces (inner surfaces) of the first substrate 130A and the second substrate 130B on the liquid crystal layer 137 side. The liquid crystal layer 137 is made of a positive nematic liquid crystal material. Note that the liquid crystal layer 137 of this embodiment uses a homogeneous alignment liquid crystal material.

  The first electrode 131 and the second electrode 134 are made of a transparent conductive material such as ITO, and are formed by film formation. The first electrode 131 is formed in a predetermined stripe shape shown in FIG. 5 by patterning. The second electrode 134 is a so-called common electrode, and is formed on the entire surface of the second substrate 130B. For the sake of illustration, the display of the second electrode 134 and the second alignment film 135 described later is omitted in FIG. Also in FIG. 5, the display of the first alignment film 133 described later is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a first alignment film 133 covering the entire surface including the first electrode 131 is formed on the first substrate 130A, and the entire surface including the second electrode 134 is formed on the second substrate 130B. A second alignment film 135 is formed to cover the surface. These are formed of, for example, a polyimide material, and an alignment process such as a rubbing process is performed on the surface thereof. The first alignment film 133 and the second alignment film 135 define the direction of the molecular axis of the liquid crystal molecules 137A when no electric field is applied. The first alignment film 133 and the second alignment film 135 are oriented so that the major axis of the liquid crystal molecules 137A is oriented in the Y direction when no electric field is applied, and the major axis is tilted in the Z direction when an electric field is applied. Processing has been applied. FIG. 3 shows the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules 137A when no electric field is applied. A predetermined voltage is applied to the second electrode 134 from a drive circuit (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 4, the first alignment film 133 has a groove 133A formed by an alignment process. The liquid crystal molecules 137AA in the vicinity of the first alignment film 133 have a pretilt angle that is inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the surface of the first substrate 130A by the groove 133A. The second alignment film 135 has a groove 135A formed by an alignment process. The liquid crystal molecules 137AB in the vicinity of the second alignment film 135 have a pretilt angle that is inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the surface of the second substrate 130B by the groove 135A. Depending on the specifications, the groove 133A formed in the first alignment film 133 and the groove 135A formed in the second alignment film 135 may have the same shape and the same pretilt angle. FIG. 4 shows an example when a rubbing process is performed as the alignment process. As the alignment treatment, a photo-alignment treatment may be performed.

  In FIG. 3, one lens column 31 basically corresponds to four columns of pixels 12. When the pitch in the X direction shown in FIG. 1 of the lens array 31 and the pixel 12 is expressed by a code LD and a code ND, respectively, in the case of 3D with 4 viewpoints, LD≈4 × ND, and in the case of 3D with 2 viewpoints, LD≈2 × ND. Further, “P” and “M” described above have a relationship of P≈M / 4.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the first electrode 131 ₁ , 131 ₂ ... 131 ₈ extending in the Y direction shown in FIG. Yes. As shown in FIG. 3, the first electrodes 131 are arranged so as to be arranged in the X direction with a predetermined interval NW. The symbol EW represents the width of the first electrode 131 in the X direction. The lens array pitch LD, the interval NW, and the width EW have a relationship of LD = 8 × (NW + EW). Note that the number of the first electrodes 131 corresponding to one lens row 31 is not limited to eight, and can be appropriately changed according to the design of the variable lens array 30. The values of the interval NW and the width EW are not particularly limited, and may be appropriately set in consideration of, for example, film formation and patterning technology. In the present embodiment, the second electrode 134 is a planar electrode formed on the entire surface of the second substrate 130B, but if there is at least one electrode between adjacent lens rows 31, The lens array 31 can be formed. For this reason, as long as at least one second electrode 134 is formed between adjacent lens rows 31, it may not be formed on the entire surface of the second substrate 130B. When the second electrode 134 has a stripe shape, the second electrode 134 can be formed in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the first electrode 131 extends. According to this structure, as described above, a variable lens suitable for 3D observation can be obtained. Note that the second electrode 134 may be formed in parallel with the extending direction of the first electrode 131.

As shown in FIG. 5, feed lines 132 ₁ , 132 ₂ ... 132 ₄ extending in a stripe shape in the X direction shown in FIG. 5 are further provided on the surface of the first substrate 130A. The feeder lines 132 _{1 to} 132 ₄ are also basically formed by the same manufacturing process as the first electrode 131. First electrode 131 _1, 131 ₈ is connected to the power supply line 132 _1, the first electrode 131 _2, 131 ₇ is connected to the feed line 132 _2. The first electrodes 131 ₃ and 131 ₆ are connected to the power supply line 132 ₃ , and the first electrodes 131 ₄ and 131 ₅ are connected to the power supply line 132 ₄ . In FIG. 5, the illustration of the contact between the feeder line 132 and the electrode 131 is omitted.

As apparent from the above connection relationships, the voltage of the first electrode 131 _1, 131 ₈ is controlled by a voltage applied to the feed line 132 _1, the voltage of the first electrode 131 _2, 131 ₇ the feed line 132 ₂ Controlled by applied voltage. The voltages of the first electrodes 131 ₃ and 13 ₆ are controlled by the voltage applied to the power supply line 132 ₃ , and the voltages of the first electrodes 131 ₄ and 13 ₁₅ are controlled by the voltage applied to the power supply line 132 _4. . An independent voltage is applied to each of the feeder lines 132 ₁ , 132 ₂ ... 132 ₄ from a drive circuit (not shown).

  The first electrode 131 of the first substrate 130A and the second electrode 134 of the second substrate 130B are made of a light-transmitting metal thin film, indium and tin oxide (ITO), or indium and zinc oxide (IZO). It can be composed of a transparent conductive material. The first electrode and the second electrode can be formed by a method such as a physical vapor deposition method (PVD method) such as a vacuum deposition method or a sputtering method, or various chemical vapor deposition methods (CVD method). . The first electrode 131 and the second electrode 134 can be patterned by a known method such as a combination of a photolithographic method and an etching method, a lift-off method, or the like.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, a spacer 136 is disposed in the lens array 31. In this embodiment as well, the spacer 136 is a spacer having an aspect ratio close to 1 in the XY plane, as shown in FIGS. The spacer 136 is disposed at the center of the lens array 31 in the X direction and randomly in the Y direction. In addition, although the spacer 136 of this embodiment made the shape in XY plane rectangular (rectangular), it is not limited to this. The shape of the spacer 136 in the XY plane can be various shapes such as a circle, an ellipse, and a polygon. The spacer 136 may be configured to be arranged in a wall shape as a shape extending in one direction (for example, the Y direction).

  The spacer 136 is provided at a predetermined location on the first alignment film 133 of the first substrate 130A. That is, the spacer 136 is formed on the first alignment film 133 and exposed in the liquid crystal layer 137. The spacer 136 is formed of a transparent polymer material, and is formed by exposure and development (etching) of a photosensitive spacer forming material layer provided on the first alignment film 133. The manufacturing process will be described later.

In the present embodiment, the spacer 136 is provided on the surface of the first alignment film 133 located at the center of the lens array 31. To a line passing through the center of the spacer 136, the first electrode 131 ₁ and the first electrode 131 ₈ are arranged symmetrically, the first electrode 131 ₂ and the first electrode 131 ₇ are arranged symmetrically. The same applies to the other first electrodes.

  In the variable lens array 30, the spacer 136 is provided at the center of the lens array 31, so that when the refractive index of the lens array 31 is changed, the spacer 136 is disposed at a place where the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 137 does not change. Can be provided. By providing the spacer 136 in a place where the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 137 does not change when the refractive index of the lens array 31 is changed, the performance of the liquid crystal molecules as a lens is improved even when the spacer 136 is provided. Can be maintained. The phrase “the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules does not change” includes not only the case where the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules does not change strictly but also the case where the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules does not change substantially. In other words, the existence of various variations caused by design or manufacturing is allowed. The spacer is preferably arranged at the center of the lens array of this embodiment, but may be arranged at the boundary between adjacent lens arrays.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the spacer 136 has a width of SW in the X direction (direction orthogonal to the extending direction) and a height in the Z direction (distance in the direction from the first substrate 130A toward the second substrate 130B). When SH is used, the spacer 136 preferably has a height SH of 5 μm or more and 50 μm or less. By setting the spacer 136 to the above height, the lens function of the variable lens array 30 can be enhanced. The spacer 136 preferably satisfies the relationship between the width SW and the height SH, 0.5 ≦ SH / SW ≦ 5. The spacer 136 has an aspect ratio between the width SW and the height SH of 1 or more, thereby reducing the influence on the liquid crystal layer 137 while reducing the height of the liquid crystal layer 137, the first substrate 130A and the second substrate 130B. The distance between can be kept constant.

  Here, the first alignment film 133 on which the spacer 136 is provided has a portion where the alignment treatment is not performed on at least a part of the region where the spacer 136 is disposed.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, in the variable lens array 30, the outer peripheral portion of the first substrate 130A and the outer peripheral portion of the second substrate 130B are sealed by a sealing portion 138 made of, for example, an epoxy resin material. Has been. The length SL of the spacer 136 shown in FIG. 6 is set to a value such that the distances D1 and D2 are spaced between the end of the spacer 136 and the sealing portion 138. The values of the distances D1 and D2 are values such that the liquid crystal material flows between the substrates without any trouble when the variable lens array 30 is manufactured. The variable lens array 30 can ensure the fluidity of the liquid crystal material by providing a gap between the end of the spacer 136 and the sealing portion.

  The variable lens array 30 is driven by a drive circuit, and the refractive index of the lens array 31 is set to a predetermined value when displaying a stereoscopic image and when displaying a normal image. In order to provide the lens array 31 with a curvature, the power supply line 132 is formed with the pretilt angle of the first alignment film 133 of the first substrate 130A on the side where the power supply line 132 for applying an electric field to the liquid crystal molecules 137A is formed. It may be higher than the pretilt angle of the second alignment film 135 of the second substrate 130B on the non-side. Thereby, optically better characteristics can be obtained.

  Next, a manufacturing method of the variable lens array 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a manufacturing method of the liquid crystal device. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another example of a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device.

  In the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal device, various wirings such as the first electrode 131 and the first to fourth feeder lines are formed on the first substrate 130A (step S12). Next, in the method for manufacturing the liquid crystal device, an alignment film (a film that becomes the first alignment film 133) is formed on the surface on which the wiring is formed (step S14). Note that the alignment film in this state is in a state where no alignment treatment is performed. Next, in the method for manufacturing the liquid crystal device, a spacer is formed on the alignment film that has not been subjected to the alignment treatment (step S16). In the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal device, after the spacer is formed on the alignment film, the alignment film is subjected to an alignment process (step S18). The liquid crystal device manufacturing method manufactures the first substrate 130A as described above. In the method for manufacturing the liquid crystal device, a second electrode 134 and a second alignment film 135 are further appropriately formed on the surface of the second substrate 130B. Then, the variable lens array 30 can be obtained by making the first substrate 130A and the second substrate 130B that have undergone the above steps face each other with a liquid crystal material interposed therebetween and sealing the periphery.

  Further, when the image display device is manufactured, the variable lens array 30 manufactured by the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal device and the image display unit 10 are overlapped. In this case, the variable lens array 30 and the image display unit 10 are preferably bonded with a transparent adhesive or the like. Thereafter, the unit in which the variable lens array 30 and the image display unit 10 overlap each other is installed in the casing in which the illumination unit 20 is arranged, and then various wirings are connected to manufacture the image display device.

  Next, the manufacturing method of the first substrate 130A will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. In the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal device, the substrate 302 to be the first substrate 130A is created (step S102), and the wiring 304 is formed on the substrate 302 (step S104). Here, the wiring 304 forms a wiring pattern by performing vapor deposition, exposure, and etching of a metal film to be the wiring 304. The wiring 304 is not a single-layer wiring but a multilayer wiring in which wirings and insulating layers are alternately stacked.

  In the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal device, after the wiring 304 is formed, a film 306 serving as an alignment film, for example, a PI (polyimide) film is formed (step S106). The film 306 can be formed by screen printing or ink jet printing. The film 306 is formed over the entire surface of the substrate 302 over which the wiring 304 is formed. Note that in the case where the film 306 is formed by ink jet printing, the film 306 may not be formed in a part of a region where the spacer is formed.

  In the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal device, after the film 306 is formed, a material layer 308 to be a spacer is formed (step S108). The material layer 308 is a transparent material having photosensitivity. In the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal device, after forming the material layer 308, a mask 310 corresponding to the pattern of the spacer is formed (step S110). In the present embodiment, the material of the material layer 308 is a positive photosensitive material. The mask 310 is provided with a material that blocks light at a position where a spacer is provided. Note that when the material of the material layer 308 is a positive photosensitive material, the region of the mask 310 where the light blocking material is disposed is reversed, and the light blocking material is disposed at a position where no spacer is provided. In the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal device, after the mask 310 is formed, the material layer 308 is exposed with exposure light.

  In the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal device, after the material layer 308 is exposed, development (etching) is performed (step S112). In the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal device, development (etching) is performed, so that a region of the material layer 308 that is not irradiated with the exposure light remains. As a result, a spacer 312 is formed on the film 306. Note that the mask 310 may be removed together with the exposed region of the material layer 308 during development, or may be removed by etching that removes only the mask 310 before development. Etching is preferably performed by wet etching using an alkaline liquid, but may be performed by dry etching. Note that etching can be easily performed by performing wet etching.

  In the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal device, after the spacer 312 is formed, the film 306 is subjected to an alignment process (step S114). In the present embodiment, linearly polarized light having a predetermined orientation direction is irradiated from the light source 330 toward the film 306. In this way, by irradiating linearly polarized light from a predetermined orientation direction, molecular bonds are cut only in a specific direction, and the film 306 is oriented. In FIG. 8, the alignment process for the film 306 is performed by the photo-alignment process. However, as shown in FIG. 9, a rubbing process for forming a groove is performed using a brush 340 or the like, and the film 306 is aligned. Also good. As a result, the film 306 is oriented in a predetermined direction. In the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal device, the wiring, the alignment film, and the spacer are formed on the first substrate 130A as described above.

  As described above, the image display device 1 forms the spacer 136 on the first alignment film 133 of the first substrate 130A, and then performs the alignment process on the first alignment film 133 after forming the spacer 136. It can be manufactured.

  As shown in FIG. 7 to FIG. 9, the image display device 1 performs the alignment process on the first alignment film 133 after forming the spacer 136, thereby favorably using the alignment film 133 on which the alignment process has been performed. And the performance of the alignment film 133 can be kept high.

  For example, in the image display device 1, after the alignment process is performed on the alignment film 133, the spacer 136 is formed. That is, the alignment process is performed on the entire surface of the alignment film 133. In the formed structure, the alignment treatment of the region in which the spacer 136 is not formed in the alignment film 133 may cause abnormal alignment because the characteristics change due to etching or the like when the spacer 136 is formed. In addition, when the alignment film 133 is formed after the spacer 136 is formed, the shape of the spacer 136 may change when the alignment film 133 is formed, and the spacer 136 may be crushed. In contrast, the image display apparatus 1 performs the alignment process on the first alignment film 133 after forming the spacer 136, and at least one of the portions of the first alignment film 133 that overlaps the region where the spacer 136 is formed. Since the portion has a structure that is not subjected to the alignment treatment, the alignment treatment of the first alignment film 133 can be maintained in a suitable state while suppressing the collapse of the spacer 136. Thereby, the malfunction by abnormal orientation can be suppressed and the fall of a yield can be suppressed.

  In addition, when the alignment film 133 is formed by inkjet printing after the spacer 136 is formed, the difference in thickness between the alignment film 133 formed around the spacer 136 and the alignment film 133 in other portions becomes non-uniform. There is. On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the spacer 136 is formed after the film to be the alignment film 133 is formed, even when the film 306 is formed by inkjet printing, the alignment film having a desired thickness at each position. 133 can be formed.

  Further, by performing the alignment process by the optical alignment process, the alignment process can be performed regardless of the arrangement of the spacers 136. Further, by performing the alignment treatment by rubbing treatment, various materials can be used for the first alignment film 133, so that the manufacture of the device can be simplified and the device can be made cheaper. Note that the alignment treatment method is not limited to this, and various alignment treatments can be used. For example, the alignment treatment may be performed by a method such as ion beam alignment.

  Note that the image display device 1 has a shape in which a spacer extends in a predetermined direction in order to secure a so-called surface pressing strength when a use state in which an image observer presses the surface of the variable lens array is assumed. It is preferable to use it. In addition, it is preferable that the spacer 136 has a shape with an aspect ratio close to 1 as in this embodiment. Thereby, the spacer 136 can be made difficult to be visually recognized. Moreover, it can be made difficult to visually recognize by arrange | positioning the spacer 136 at random like this embodiment.

  As a material constituting the liquid crystal layer of the variable lens array, widely known materials such as the nematic liquid crystal material described above can be used. The material constituting the liquid crystal layer is not particularly limited.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view when an image display device used in another embodiment is virtually separated. Here, although the liquid crystal layer 137 of the present embodiment uses a homogeneous alignment liquid crystal material, a twisted nematic (TN) liquid crystal material can also be used. When a twisted nematic (TN) type liquid crystal material is used for the liquid crystal layer of the variable lens array, the variable lens array 30A is placed on the opposite side of the liquid crystal layer of the second substrate 130B as in the image display device 1A shown in FIG. By providing the polarizing plate 139, a display state similar to that of the image display device 1 is obtained.

  The planar shape of the first electrode on the first substrate and the planar shape of the second electrode on the second substrate may be appropriately set according to the design of the variable lens array. For example, one of the first electrode and the second electrode may be a planar common electrode, and the other may be a stripe electrode, or both may be a stripe shape. Note that continuous application of a DC voltage to the liquid crystal layer may cause deterioration of the liquid crystal material. For this reason, it is only necessary to drive the variable lens array so that the polarity of the voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode is sequentially reversed as in a normal liquid crystal display panel. Furthermore, the other side may be patterned as a planar electrode or a stripe-shaped electrode. A stripe in the parallel direction is a normal liquid crystal lens, and a stripe in the vertical direction is a variable lens suitable for 3D observation of the panel.

  In the image display device 1 of the present embodiment, the variable lens array is disposed between the image display unit and the image observer, but the structure of the present disclosure is not limited to this. In the image display device, a variable lens array may be disposed between the image display unit (transmissive display panel) and the illumination unit.

  Moreover, the various conditions shown in this specification are satisfied not only when they are strictly satisfied but also when they are substantially satisfied. The presence of various variations in design or manufacturing is allowed.

<2. Application example>
Next, an application example of the image display device 1 described in the embodiment and the modification will be described. The image display device 1 according to the embodiment and the modified example is an electronic device in all fields such as a car navigation device, a television device, a digital camera, a notebook personal computer, a mobile phone, a portable terminal device such as a portable game machine, or a video camera. It can be applied to equipment. In other words, the image display device 1 according to the embodiment and the modification can be applied to electronic devices in various fields that display an externally input video signal or an internally generated video signal as an image or video. is there.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of an electronic apparatus to which the image display device according to the present embodiment is applied. FIG. 11 shows an example in which the display device is mounted on a portable game machine. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the display device 1 is disposed at a position sandwiched between the operation units 402 of the portable game machine 400. The portable game machine 400 is used while the user looks at the screen while holding both ends of the operation unit 402 of the housing with both hands. By using the image display device 1, it is possible to display the game screen in a state where it can be viewed stereoscopically.

1 the image display device 10 an image display unit 11 display region 11A pixel substrate 11B opposite substrate 11C liquid crystal layer 12 pixel 20 illuminated portion 30 variable lens array 31 lens array 130A first substrate 130B second substrate 131 _1, 131 _2, 131 ₃ , 131 _4, 131 _5, 131 _6, 131 _7, 131 ₈ first electrode 132 _1, 132 _2, 132 _3, 132 ₄ feed line 133 first alignment layer 134 second electrode 135 second alignment layer 136 spacer 137 liquid crystal layer 137A, 137AA, 137AB liquid crystal molecules 138 sealing portions _{A 1, A 2, A 3} , A 4 viewpoints

Claims (7)

A first substrate which is a transparent substrate;
A second substrate which is a transparent substrate facing the first substrate;
A liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules provided between the first substrate and the second substrate;
A stripe-shaped first electrode formed on a surface of the first substrate on the liquid crystal layer side;
A feed line provided on the first substrate and connected to the first electrode;
A second electrode formed on the surface of the second substrate on the liquid crystal layer side;
A plurality of lens rows in which a refractive index changes by changing an alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer by a voltage applied between the first electrode and the second electrode;
A first alignment film for aligning the liquid crystal molecules on the liquid crystal layer side surface of the first substrate;
A second alignment film for aligning the liquid crystal molecules on the surface of the second substrate on the liquid crystal layer side;
A columnar spacer provided on the first alignment film of the first substrate,
Wherein the first alignment film, have at least in part on the portion where the alignment treatment is not performed in the overlapping portion and the columnar spacers,
The pretilt angle of the first alignment film is higher than the pretilt angle of the second alignment film,
The columnar spacer is located at the center of the lens array,
The liquid crystal device , wherein the first electrode is arranged symmetrically with respect to a line passing through the center of the columnar spacer .   The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the alignment process is a photo-alignment process.   The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the alignment process is a rubbing process.   4. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the columnar spacer has a relationship between a height and a width of 0.5 ≦ height / width ≦ 5. 5. Electronic apparatus comprising the liquid crystal device as claimed in any one of claims 4. A first substrate that is a transparent substrate; a second substrate that is a transparent substrate facing the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer that includes liquid crystal molecules provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; A stripe-shaped first electrode formed on the surface of the first substrate on the liquid crystal layer side, a power supply line provided on the first substrate and connected to the first electrode, and the liquid crystal layer of the second substrate A plurality of layers having a refractive index that changes by changing the orientation direction of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer by a second electrode formed on the side surface and a voltage applied between the first electrode and the second electrode. A first alignment film for aligning the liquid crystal molecules on the liquid crystal layer side surface of the first substrate, and a second alignment for aligning the liquid crystal molecules on the liquid crystal layer side surface of the second substrate. a film, the columnar spacers provided on the first first alignment film on a substrate, the Therefore, the pre-tilt angle of the first alignment film is higher than the pre-tilt angle of the second alignment film, the columnar spacer is located at the center of the lens array, and the first electrode is at the center of the columnar spacer. A liquid crystal device manufacturing method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device arranged symmetrically with respect to a passing line,
Forming a film to be the first alignment film on the first substrate;
Forming a columnar spacer on the first alignment film;
And a step of performing an alignment process on the first alignment film on which the columnar spacers are formed. The liquid crystal device manufacturing method according to claim 6 , wherein in the step of forming the columnar spacer, the columnar spacer is formed by etching.

Images